Small Farm Blogs Feedhttp://sfp.ucdavis.edu/index.cfm?blogrss=51570&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
Small Farm Blogsen-usUC ANRhttp://cyber.law.harvard.edu/rss/Mon, 21 Jan 2019 14:00:31 PSTMon, 21 Jan 2019 14:00:31 PSTUC ANRRuth Dahlquist-Willard, Margaret Lloyd, Aparna Gazula, Ramiro Lobo, Mark Gaskell, Shermain Hardesty, Cindy Fake, Penny Leff, Jose Aguiar Fresno’s Southeast Asian farmers are on trend with new ‘superfood’Farmer Vang Thao has been managing a successful farm south of Fresno for nearly 30 years, producing a spectacular array of vegetables &ndash; heirloom tomatoes, purple bell peppers, water spinach, bitter melon, Thai eggplant and dozens of others.
Every weekend the family traverses the Grape Vine to set up a visual feast at farmers markets in Santa Monica, Hollywood, Palos Verdes, Torrance and Hollywood. Acclaimed Los Angeles chefs rave about his produce, according to a Los Angeles Times......]]>Mon, 09 Jul 2018 09:03:00 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=27627&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=27627AgricultureEconomic DevelopmentLorena RamosMichael YangmoringaRuth Dahlquist-Willard June 2018 news clipsAgricultural advances draw opposition that blunts innovation
(Science) Anne Q. Hoy, June 29
Scientists are using technology to expand global food production and ease its environmental impact, but advances are being challenged by claims that lack scientific evidence and raise public distrust and concern, a leading agricultural scientist told an American Association for the Advancement of Science audience.
Alison Van Eenennaam traced the advent of campaigns against agricultural innovations......]]>Sat, 30 Jun 2018 14:09:00 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=27636&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
pam.kanrice@ucanr.edu(Pamela Kan-Rice)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=27636Alison Van EenennaamBeth Grafton-CardwellBill StewartDaniel SumnerFlorent TrouillasGail FeenstraGlenda HumistonJeff MitchellJhalendra RijalJoe NunezKaan KurturalKate WilkinLuke MillironMatthew FidelibusNiamh QuinnPenny LeffPhoebe Gordon Strawberry stands sell berries fresh from the fieldSlugs, snails, ants, aphids, spider mites and inclement weather conspire against strawberry growers harvesting perfect red berries to sell.
&ldquo;Farming is hard work,&rdquo; said Fam Lee, as she pulled a weed from a row of strawberry plants. Lee and her husband Nathan Punh are among about 60 Mien farmers in the Sacramento area who call on Margaret Lloyd, a UC Cooperative Extension advisor, for farming advice.
&ldquo;Although we are not organic farmers, we always want to go with......]]>Wed, 30 May 2018 14:09:00 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=27286&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
pam.kanrice@ucanr.edu(Pamela Kan-Rice)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=27286AgricultureEconomic DevelopmentMargaret LloydMien farmersSmall FarmsStrawberries March news clipsUnprecedented Study Discovers what Urban Coyotes Really Eat
(Care2) Laura Goldman, March 30
Hiking boots, avocados, candy wrappers and fast-food containers. These aren't a few of my favorite things, but they are some of the items found inside the stomachs of dead urban coyotes in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
&hellip;Since the study began over a year ago, the researchers, led by Dr. Niamh Quinn, the human-wildlife interactions advisor for the University of California Cooperative......]]>Tue, 03 Apr 2018 18:38:00 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=26781&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
pam.kanrice@ucanr.edu(Pamela Kan-Rice)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=26781Betsy KarleBrent HoltzCatherine BrinkleyCindy FakeDaniel SumnerDavid DollFrank MitloehnerGail FeenstraJeff StackhouseJhalendra RijalLynn WunderlichMaurice PiteskyNeil McRobertsNiamh QuinnRachael LongSurendra DaraTapan Pathak 'Local' food labels deceive customersA popular foodie trend is to "buy local," but use of the term is rarely enforced, reported Robert Anglen in the Arizona Republic. The story was published on USAToday.com.
"The word 'local' is chic; it sells things," said Cindy Fake, UC Cooperative Extension advisor in Placer and Nevada counties. "So, it's used by everybody and anybody."
Fake said "local" has no clear definition and consumers are easily misled.
"They are likely to be deceived," she said. "Consumers are thinking one way and......]]>Tue, 20 Mar 2018 15:27:00 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=26661&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=26661Buy LocalCindy FakeFoodGail Feenstra California-grown coffee could be the state's next gold mineWhile serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Venezuela, Mark Gaskell got his first experience with thriving coffee plantations. Years later, as a UC Cooperative Extension advisor to small-scale farmers in California, he wondered whether coffee could be a viable specialty crop for Central Coast farmers.
Gaskell established transplants in 2001 and discovered that the sub-tropical plants could thrive in the Golden State, reported Jodi Helmer on Valley Public Radio's The Salt.
Local farmers......]]>Tue, 20 Feb 2018 11:42:00 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=26397&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=26397coffeeEconomic DevelopmentFoodMark Gaskell Farmers can increase income by expanding small operations with creative new businessesFarms that sell only fresh produce are dependent on buyers for markets and pricing. The UC Cooperative Extension small farms team in Fresno and Tulare counties believes farmers can earn more money by taking production a step further, by adding extra value to their products with processing, preserving and packaging the produce.
UC Cooperative Extension small farms advisor Ruth Dahlquist-Willard, the UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, and Fresno State's Office of......]]>Fri, 09 Feb 2018 08:38:00 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=26327&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=26327AgricultureEconomic DevelopmentFoodLorena RamosMichael YangRuth Dahlquist-Willardsmall farmvalue-added Monthly news round up: January 2018Woodland as ag hub topic of forum
(Woodland Daily Democrat) Jenice Tupolo, Jan. 30
Developing Woodland as an agricultural center is becoming more of a reality, even as local organizations worked together in creating a forum focused on agricultural innovation in Yolo County.
...The city of Woodland, AgStart, UC Agricultural and Natural Resources, and the city's Food Front initiative hosted keynote speaker and vice president of the UC ANR, Glenda Humiston, at the......]]>Wed, 31 Jan 2018 13:06:00 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=25999&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
pam.kanrice@ucanr.edu(Pamela Kan-Rice)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=259994-HAgricultureAlison Van EenennaamBen FaberBrad HansonBrent HoltzDan MaconDaniel SumnerEconomic DevelopmentEnvironmentGlenda HumistonJoe ConnellJohn RoncoroniKatherine SouleKevin DayLenya Quinn-DavidsonLynn HuntsingerMark HoddleMatthew ShaperoPaul VerdegaalPest ManagementRhonda SmithRuth Dahlquist-WillardScott StephensSteve FennimoreTracy SchohrTrevor Suslow UCCE helps farmers increase revenue by creating value-added enterprisesSan Joaquin Valley production of moringa, a purported superfood that is typically imported to the United States from the tropics, might open the door for small scale farmers to break into a value-added business, reported Katrina Schwartz of KQED News.
Moringa is a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree native to the southern foothills of the Himalayas in northwestern India. It's young seed pods, roots and leaves are used as vegetables, says an article on Wikipedia.
Ruth Dahlquist-Willard, the......]]>Fri, 26 Jan 2018 14:21:00 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=26191&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=26191Economic DevelopmentmoringaRuth Dahlquist-Willard California’s nascent coffee industry to hold summit Jan. 18Coffee is being commercially grown in California and coffee drinkers can't get enough of the locally produced beverage, which currently retails for about $18 per cup. Anyone who is interested in growing, processing or marketing specialty coffee in California is invited to a Coffee Summit on Jan. 18 at Cal Poly Pomona.
Until recently, American coffee was grown commercially only in Hawaii. To make the most of their precious water, California farmers have begun experimenting with coffee plantings......]]>Tue, 12 Dec 2017 15:28:00 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=25857&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
pam.kanrice@ucanr.edu(Pamela Kan-Rice)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=25857CoffeeMark Gaskell The beautiful and healthful pitahaya thrives in Southern CaliforniaFarmer Arian Williams is successfully tending 16 acres of avocados in the De Luz area of Temecula, but he and his wife came to the 10th annual UC Pitahaya Festival in August to see whether there is commercial potential in producing pitahaya.
"We're taking cuttings, and trying it now," Williams said.
Vanessa Caballero, Williams wife, was enthusiastic about the prospect. "I love the way pitahayas look, and there are not too many grown commercially now," she said.
The field day at......]]>Thu, 31 Aug 2017 09:25:09 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=25044&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=25044Niamh QuinnPitahayaRamiro Lobo Sourcing sustainable food for students is a successThe UC system's goal to purchase 20 percent of its food from sustainable sources by 2020, one of the efforts connected to the UC Global Food Initiative, has already been achieved four years early, reported Scott Thill on Civil Eats.
The residence dining halls purchased 22 percent of their food from sustainable sources and five UC medical centers have reached 20 percent.
"I think our challenge going forward is realizing that 20 percent is considered a minimum-level threshold," said Tim......]]>Mon, 06 Mar 2017 15:55:00 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=23465&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=23465Global Food InitiativeMark Gaskellsustainable UC Cooperative Extension support eases the plight of droughtA recent survey by UC Cooperative Extension advisor Ruth Dahlquist-Willard provides a picture of the Hmong farmer experience during the recent drought, reported Andrea Castillo in the Fresno Bee.
Sixty-eight farmers were interviewed by phone or in-person. Twenty-two percent said their wells had dried up, and 51 percent reported a decreased water flow.
&ldquo;For the ones with dry wells, it could be $20,000 to $50,000 to drill a new well,&rdquo; Dahlquist-Willard said. &ldquo;A lot of them......]]>Tue, 16 Aug 2016 15:13:00 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=21843&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=21843Ruth Dahlquist-Willard Hmong farmers getting help from UC Cooperative Extension to weather the droughtAfter the Central Valley Hmong Agriculture radio show last week, the phones at the UC Cooperative Extension office in Fresno County were buzzing non-stop with farmers anxious to apply for state grants to improve irrigation systems and energy efficiency. Michael Yang, UCCE Hmong agricultural assistant, has hosted the one-hour show each Tuesday afternoon on KBIF 900 AM for 19 years.
&ldquo;Sometimes we don't see the farmers that often. They are busy on the farm,&rdquo; Yang said. &ldquo;But when......]]>Mon, 25 Jul 2016 10:44:00 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=21628&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=21628droughtHmongMichael YangRuth Dahlquist-Willard Grafting tomato transplants could improve taste and yieldTwo UC Cooperative Extension advisors are conducting field research to determine whether grafting tasty tomato plants onto high-performing root stock will increase yield and disease resistance while improving tomato flavor, reported Ezra David Romero on Valley Public Radio.
Romero spoke to Scott Stoddard, the UCCE vegetable crops advisor for Madera and Merced counties, and Margaret Lloyd, the UCCE small farms advisor for Yolo, Solano and Sacramento counties.
Stoddard has planted 3,500 grafted......]]>Mon, 18 Jul 2016 14:20:00 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=21560&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=21560Margaret LloydScott Stoddardtomatoes Heirloom tomatoes are a delicious treat and provide a market niche for small growersIn recent years, heirloom tomatoes have become a farm-to-table favorite.
Some consumers are willing to pay a hefty price at trendy restaurants, farmers markets, roadside stands, and even local grocery stores for tomatoes with irregular shapes, vivid colors and rich tomato flavor.
The consumer demand presents an opportunity for small-scale farmers, and a challenge.
&ldquo;It's not easy to grow heirloom varieties,&rdquo; said Margaret Lloyd, the UC Cooperative Extension small-scale farm......]]>Tue, 17 May 2016 10:33:00 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=21063&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=21063heirloom tomatoesMargaret Lloydsmall farms San Diego is a hub for small farmsWith 5,700 small-scale farms, San Diego County bills itself as having the state's largest concentration of small farms, reported Tatiana Sanchez in the San Diego Union-Tribune. About 4,000 of the farms are from 1 to 9 acres in size.
"We have 3 million consumers in San Diego County and maybe 17 to 18 million consumers in Southern California. It makes an opportunity for someone to find a niche and find a place to succeed in this world and sell their product," said Eric Larson, executive director......]]>Wed, 04 Nov 2015 10:15:00 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=19427&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=19427Ramiro Lobosmall farms Media reaches out to UC ANR for drought newsAs the California drought wears on, media have reached out this week to UC Agriculture and Natural Resources advisors about consequences in agricultural cropland, urban landscapes and fire-prone wildland.
Agricultural cropland
NPR's Valley Public Radio ran a story about salt buildup in almond orchards. Without rainfall to move salts below almond trees' rootzone, harmful levels of salinity are building up in the soil. &ldquo;We've been seeing this increasing problem over the past couple years,......]]>Wed, 22 Jul 2015 15:40:00 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=18425&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=18425David DolldroughtIgor LacanMark GaskellScott Stephens UC ANR plays a role in the California Small Farm Conference]]>Mon, 16 Mar 2015 08:56:00 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=17089&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=17089Mark Gaskell California coffee can be grown amidst avocado treesPlanting coffee shrubs right next to avocado trees is allowing a Central Coast farmer to grow a commercial crop of coffee without using any additional land, water or fertilizer, reported Parma Nagappan in TakePart.com.
The farmer, Jay Ruskey was working with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources advisor Mark Gaskell when they had a "eureka moment," the story said. Coffee bushes can benefit from the environment created by an avocado plantation.
"I went through lots of cycles of plantings......]]>Fri, 13 Mar 2015 09:12:00 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=17077&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=17077coffeeMark Gaskell Farmers market prices compare well with the supermarket produce aisleMany shoppers believe they can buy cheaper produce at supermarkets than at local farmers markets. A new UC Cooperative Extension study dispels that common misperception.
In Placer and Nevada counties, UCCE received a CDFA Specialty Block Grant to encourage consumers to eat more fruits and vegetables and support the local agricultural industry by buying the produce from them. The project led to the creation of the &ldquo;Eat Local Placer Nevada&rdquo; campaign.
&ldquo;Buying locally grown......]]>Wed, 17 Sep 2014 08:21:00 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=15327&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=15327Cindy Fakefarmers markets Cottage food law not the answer to small-farm woesWhen the California Homemade Food Act went into effect early last year, it was hailed as an exciting new opportunity for small scale farmers to boost profits. The law allows for certain foods prepared in home kitchens to be sold directly to the public at farmers markets and roadside stands.
The UC small farm program held a series of two-day workshops around California to outline the provisions of the new law. Shermain Hardesty, UC Cooperative Extension specialist, was the coordinator and an......]]>Thu, 17 Jul 2014 10:35:00 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=14677&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=14677cottage food lawShermain Hardesty Agritourism an option in the San Joaquin ValleyEven though the typical San Joaquin Valley farm is focused exclusively on food production, local growers can profit from increasing interest in agritourism, reported Helen Tracey-Noren in the Fresno Bee. The concept was touted at a recent forum in Fresno where CDFA secretary Karen Ross and the CEO of Visit California, Caroline Beteta, spoke about the agritourism trend.
"It's about, 'here's what farmers and ranchers are doing as your neighbors,' their environmental stewardship," said Ross.......]]>Mon, 07 Jul 2014 15:49:00 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=14542&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=14542agritourismPenny Leff Creativity helps small-scale farmers surviveTo survive as a small-scale farmer, it may not be enough to merely grow food. With most people eating food grown by very large commercial agricultural enterprises, small farmers can attract sales with some creativity and a personal touch, reported Gosia Wozniacka of the Associated Press.
Farm operators generated $10 billion in 2007 from farm-related activities other than crop or livestock wholesale, an increase of nearly 80 percent from 2002, the article said.
For perspective on what is known......]]>Mon, 24 Jun 2013 09:41:44 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=10680&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=10680agritourismShermain Hardesty Media gets UC input for stories on unconventional farmingReporters sought UC Cooperative Extension expertise for recent articles about unusual farming efforts in two parts of California.
Fresno Bee reporter Robert Rodriguez covered the story of sisters in their early 20s who have settled on their dad's Laton alfalfa farm after he suffered complications from a black widow bite. The young women purchased chickens on a whim and began producing specialty eggs under the brand name "Just Got Laid."
Rodriguez spoke to Shermain Hardesty, UCCE specialist......]]>Mon, 20 May 2013 09:31:10 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=10421&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=10421Jay LundRoger DuncanShermain Hardesty Hoop houses sprouting along Santa Barbara County roadwaysThe "Roadside Attractions" column in the Santa Maria Times today comments on the increasing number of hoop houses seen along Santa Barbara County highways and byways.
Hoop houses, long white tents also known as tunnels, shelter raspberries, the article said.
&ldquo;There&rsquo;s been a dramatic increase in berry growing in the county,&rdquo; said Mark Gaskell, UC Cooperative Extension advisor for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.
Hoop houses essentially serve as mini-greenhouses.......]]>Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:58:17 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9760&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9760Mark Gaskellraspberries Catching up on UC Cooperative Extension news over the holidaysThe Redding Appeal Democrat reported in December that the ranks of U.S. farmers is dwindling. Said Sutter County almond grower Mat Conant, "Pretty soon we'll be such a small minority nobody will listen to us."
Fewer farmers means there are fewer lawmakers with first-hand knowledge of agricultural production.
"You can go to Washington, D.C., and talk about agriculture, but it doesn't have the same impact if you practically experience it," said Christopher Greer, UC Cooperative Extension......]]>Tue, 08 Jan 2013 11:13:23 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9025&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=9025Chris GreerJose AguiarPete GoodellRichard SmithVictor GibeaultYana Valachovic Putting agriculture back in the county fair experienceFairs in California have come a long way from their agricultural roots. Originally created as a showplace for recently harvested crops and livestock raised by youth, fairs now are focused on entertainment, shopping and just about anything deep-fried or on a stick.
UC Cooperative Extension and the Fairs and Expositions branch of the California Department of Food and Agriculture teamed up this summer to host meetings at seven county fairs to see how to bring back the quaint agricultural flavor......]]>Tue, 30 Oct 2012 08:15:19 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=8456&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=8456agritourismPenny Leff Exotic pitahaya possible desert cash cropA native of Mexico and South American, the beautiful tropical fruit pitahaya - also known as dragon fruit - could be a viable crop for Southern California desert, said an article in the Desert Sun.
Ramiro Lobo, UC Cooperative Extension advisor in San Diego County, shared the results of pitahaya studies conducted in San Diego and Irvine with a group of inland desert farmers recently.
&ldquo;The fruit size and quality is good ... we&rsquo;re getting great marketable yields,&rdquo; Lobo......]]>Wed, 17 Oct 2012 08:46:06 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=8528&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=8528dragon fruitJose Luis AguiarpitahayaRamiro Lobo Forget five-star hotels, book a farmSunset Magazine ran an article this month encouraging readers to consider a farm stay for their next vacation. Beside a tranquil and scenic break from the office, farm visits help small-scale farmers sustain their operations, the article said.
&ldquo;Farmers are recognizing that people are willing to pay for this experience,&rdquo; said Penny Leff, agritourism coordinator for the University of California small farm program, whose researchers have seen a boost in the number of farms catering to......]]>Wed, 25 Jul 2012 08:51:03 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=8010&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=8010agritourismPenny Leff UC Cooperative Extension advisor helped Solvang family start a new businessMark Gaskell, UC Cooperative Extension advisor in Santa Barbara County, is credited in the Santa Inez Valley Journal for helping a retired couple start a new business. Gaskell is an expert in small-scale farming.
The article said Leonard and Nancy Morrell were unsure what to do with their 2.5-acre farm in Solvang after their kids were raised and they retired from their jobs. Leonard read a research paper by Gaskell that suggested the area provided excellent conditions to grow blackberries and......]]>Thu, 10 May 2012 11:49:13 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7472&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7472Mark Gaskell UCCE plans meeting to help producers with new water rulesFarmers and ranchers who use river or stream water must start submitting precise monthly records to the California Water Quality Control Board this year, said an article by Tim Hearden in Capital Press.
Before the new law took effect, the water board asked landowners for estimates, said Allan Fulton, a University of California Cooperative Extension advisor who serves Colusa, Glenn and Shasta counties. Fulton is an irrigation and water resources expert.
"There is a statewide effort at trying......]]>Wed, 21 Mar 2012 12:54:05 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7080&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7080agritourismAlan FultonLarry ForeroPenny Leffwater Growers can find strength - and profit - in numbersMulti-farm community-supported agriculture programs, cooperatives and pools under a common label are some ways small- to medium-sized operations can reach new customers interested in local produce, wrote Renee Stern in The Grower.
Together, growers can offer enough volume or range of crops to attract retailers, foodservice outlets or institutions that might be out of reach for each individual farm.
Stern included comments from a wide variety of experts in her article, including marketing......]]>Thu, 01 Mar 2012 09:48:29 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6926&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6926Julian AlstonShermain Hardesty California grown coffee is a new option for locavoresSeveral years ago, Jay Ruskey of Good Land Organics and UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor Mark Gaskell started an experiment to see how well coffee plants would grow in Santa Barbara County's temperate coastal climate, reported Sara Cole on the website Eat Drink Explore. After harvesting and processing the beans, they were pleasantly surprised by the results. They found that coffee plants tolerate a temperate climate as long as they are protected from extreme weather like frost, wind and......]]>Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:27:58 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6377&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6377coffeeMark Gaskell You should taste it freshQuestion: What exotic fruit has been named as a flavor in Starburst candy, Ice Breakers gum, SoBe beverages, Vitamin Water drinks, Bacardi rum and even Axe body spray?
Answer: Dragon fruit. (Hylocereus spp.)
So while many of us may have tasted products that flaunt its name, have you ever sunk your teeth into a fresh dragon fruit?
If you want to try one, you may be in luck because now is the peak harvest season in Southern California for this subtropical cactus fruit with the fire-breathing......]]>Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:28:41 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=5684&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
bldawson@ucdavis.edu(Brenda Dawson)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=5684cactuspitahayaRamiro Lobosmall farmsspecialty cropssubtropical fruitUC Small Farm Program Agritourism in agriculture's heartlandThirty percent of the farmers offering agritourism events supplemented their regular farm income by $50,000 or more in 2008, according to a study by the UC small farm program that was covered on the front page of today's Fresno Bee. Nearly two-thirds of California agritourism operators planned to expand or diversify over the next five years.
"There is no question that there is a lot of potential for growth, and we are seeing it happen," the story quoted Shermain Hardesty, small farm program......]]>Mon, 16 May 2011 08:46:07 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=4867&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=4867agritourismEllie RillaShermain Hardesty UC helps farmers identify profitable specialty crops]]>Tue, 22 Mar 2011 07:26:05 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=4439&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=4439Manuel JimenezMark GaskellRichard Molinarspecialty crops Agritourism continues its whistle-stop tour of CaliforniaThis week, the UC small farm program's final agritourism workshop in a series of five convenes in Monterey, winding up a whirlwind educational and promotional tour of California aimed at selling the farm - to visitors.
All over California, farmers are inviting visitors to participate in farm camps, harvest festivals, horseback riding, hiking, hunting, bird-watching, tours and farm stand activities like tasting and picking, according to a Corning Observer story about the Feb. 23 agritourism......]]>Mon, 28 Feb 2011 09:21:29 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=4308&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=4308agritourismPenny Leff The best agritourism is found on real working farmsThe San Diego Union Tribune ran a 1,500-word story on local agritourism last Friday, featuring UC expertise and resources front and center.
UC's agritourism coordinator Penny Leff provided reporter Emily Rizzo with a definition of agritourism, "a commercial enterprise on a working farm or ranch conducted for visitor enjoyment and education that generates supplemental income for owners."
Promoting agritourism in San Diego has been underway for years, but positioning the Southern California......]]>Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:57:41 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=4278&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=4278agritourismPenny LeffRamiro Lobo Many UC academics heeded Kennedy's call to 'serve the cause of peace'When President John F. Kennedy created the Peace Corps in 1961, he not only sent thousands of Americans to serve the cause of peace in the developing world, he set them on a course of service that continued when they returned to the U.S. A significant number came to work for UC Cooperative Extension.
One of them is Jim Grieshop, a now-retired UCCE community education development specialist, who was profiled in an article in the February issue of Alaska Airlines Magazine marking the Peace......]]>Thu, 03 Feb 2011 09:16:00 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=4173&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=4173Ben FaberDavid LewisGlenda HumistonJack WilliamsJeff DahlbergJuan GuerreroKen WilmarthMark GaskellMike MarzollaMonica CooperMorgan DoranPeace CorpsRachel SurlsRichard MolinarSusan Laughlin UC helps community develop local food systems]]>Mon, 08 Nov 2010 10:02:18 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=3748&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=3748Gail FeenstraLake Countylocal foodShermain Hardesty Agritourism gets a plug on San Francisco TVSan Francisco consumers learned of educational and fun opportunities for agritourism from a clip on KGO-TV news yesterday about a trend that boosts the bottom line for farmers involved in quaint agricultural industries.
The segment focused on an organic dairy in Petaluma, an apple U-pick operation in Sebastopol and a sustainable farm that offers over-night stays also in Sebastopol.
"People come from all over the world, although there are many people who just come from San Francisco or......]]>Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:08:10 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=3373&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=3373agritourismPenny Leff Sacramento farms sell direct at high rateFourteen percent of Sacramento-area farms market directly to consumers, compared to just nine percent of farmers nationally, according to research by Shermain Hardesty, UC Davis Cooperative Extension economist. The study was publicized in a UC Davis news release, and picked in the Sacramento Business Journal.
Hardesty found that farms in the Sacramento region averaged $19,518 in annual income in direct sales - at such outlets as farmers markets and roadside stands. California farms' direct......]]>Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:31:29 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=3048&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=3048directfarmers marketsroadside standsShermain Hardesty Santa Barbara County mulls over UCCE budget]]>Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:19:59 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=3039&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=3039budgetDon KlingborgMark GaskellUCCE county offices Methyl iodide hearing prompts news coverage]]>Mon, 21 Jun 2010 05:12:34 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=2956&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=2956Cindy Fakemethyl iodidestrawberries Lychee: Good for the body, good for the farmThe sub-tropical fruit lychee could be a new crop for farmers along California's coast, according to Mark Gaskell, the UC Cooperative Extension advisor to small-scale farmers in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
A ping-pong-ball-sized tree fruit with white, jelly-like flesh, the red-skinned lychee is popular among Asian consumers. They appear to be adapted to roughly the same conditions as avocados, Gaskell said. Since the fruit is well accepted in areas where it is available, the......]]>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 08:36:51 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=2922&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=2922flavanolsfruitlycheeMark GaskellRobert Hockman New food safety law could hurt small farmersA behind-the-scenes battle is raging in the Senate over how to regulate small and organic growers without ruining them - and still protect consumers from contaminated food, according to a story published yesterday in the San Francisco Chronicle.
The crux of the legislation gives the Food and Drug Administration greater authority to regulate how products are grown, stored, transported, inspected, traced from farm to table and recalled when needed.
Reporter Carolyn Lockhead interviewed Madera......]]>Wed, 28 Apr 2010 09:52:18 PSThttp://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=2660&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed
jewarnert@ucanr.edu(Jeannette E. Warnert)http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=2660food safetyleafy greensorganicShermain Hardestysmall farms